[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Feb. 15 SINGAPOREfemale foreign national faces death penalty Indonesian helper in Singapore faces death for alleged murder of elderly employer An Indonesian domestic helper in Singapore has been charged today with the murder of her 78-year-old employer, media reports said. Wheelchair-bound Tay Quee Lang was found dead in her flat at Block 276 Tampines Street 22 with a knife reportedly lodged in her neck. Channel News Asia reports that Minah, 37, is accused of causing the death of Tay at about 2.10pm on Monday in the Tampines flat Tay shared with her husband, who was not home at the time of the alleged killing. Police said they received a call for assistance at about 2.10pm. When officers arrived at the unit on the 5th floor, they found the woman lying motionless. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. In court today, Minah, dressed in a black and white striped T-shirt, appeared calm as the capital charge was read to her by an interpreter. She will be remanded for a psychiatric evaluation and will next appear in court on Mar 8. If she is found guilty of murder, Minah will face the death penalty. (source: thestandard.com.hk) NIGERIA: Lagos NAWOJ to FG, states: Pass death penalty for rape The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, has called on the Federal Government and all state governments to pass death penalty for rape. This call was contained in a communique signed by the Lagos NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajia Sekinah Lawal at the association's February Congress which held in Lagos State. The group commended the Lagos State House of Assembly and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for passing death penalty for kidnapping in the state noting that rape is also a big problem in the country. "The Police and parents should be ready to report and follow cases of rape to the last conclusion. Mothers should also make sure their grown-up girls were well-dressed as a strategy to curb rape while those found guilty should be sentenced to death in order to serve as deterrent to others," it added. Lagos NAWOJ also called on Federal and state governments to urgently do something about the economy with a view to tackling high inflation, saying access to drugs, medical care and food items is becoming more difficult. Similarly, members expressed concern over the likelihood of emergence of fake drugs due to unavailability of the originals. The group also commended the first lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari for the women empowerment programme through vocational trainings and called for more empowerment programmes for unemployed graduates and women. "A place like Lagos State for instance has a lot of riverine communities; with this, we can have more fish farmers so as to meet the deficit of fish farming in Nigeria," the communique suggested. The group urged all and sundry to do everything within their capabilities to end female genital mutilation. (source: The Nation) IRANexecutions 13 Prisoners Executed 9 prisoners on death row, 3 verdicts for hand amputation The mullahs' regime's henchmen sent 10 inmates to the gallows in Qum and Zabol on February 13. One of them was executed while his appeal had been sent to the regime's judiciary. Also, 3 other prisoners, 29 and 30 years old, were executed in Jiroft and Mashhad prisons on February 11 and 12. On the other hand, 9 prisoners have been reportedly transferred to solitary confinement in Gohardasht prison for execution. Iranian Resistance calls all relevant international authorities to take urgent and effective action to prevent these executions. A few days ago, Ali Alizadeh, an official in the so-called anti-drug campaign, called for the continuation of brutal punishments and said, "Adjusting death penalty does not contribute to the campaign, and faces it with challenges." (Khaneh Mettlat, state-run news agency- 5 February 2017) In yet another case, the mullahs' judiciary in Tehran issued the ruling for cutting off the hands of three individuals charged with theft. (Hamshahri, state daily- 12 February 2017) Unable to cope with the growing domestic and international crises, and in fear of public uprising, the hated regime of mullahs finds the only way out in intensifying suppression. The regime's officials should be expelled from the world community for their anti-human crimes, and must be tried for crime against humanity. Silence and inaction before the crimes of this savage regime over the past three decades has encouraged it to continue and intensify these crimes. (source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran) ** 9 Prisoners Hanged 2 unidentified prisoners were reportedly hanged at Mashhad's Vakilabad Prison on Sunday February 12 on murder charges, and 7 unidentified prisoners were reportedly hanged at Qom's Langroud Prison on Monday February 13 on drug related charges. According to the state-run
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----KAN., S.DAK., COLO., ARIZ., WASH., USA, US MIL.
Feb. 15 KANSAS: Death row: Legislators have responsibility to abolish capital punishment. Many Kansans may not know the state has a death penalty. There have been no executions in Kansas since 1965. Still, attempts to abolish capital punishment have failed. In 2010, the Kansas Senate narrowly rejected a proposal to repeal the state's capital punishment law and replace the death sentence for some murders with life in prison without parole. Proponents of repeal often cite the expense to taxpayers. 1st-degree murder proceedings involving the death penalty cost far more than cases in which death wasn't sought, studies have shown. As part of new discussion on another proposal to kill capital punishment, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt recently argued debate over the death penalty shouldn???t center on dollars and cents. The issue does indeed go beyond economics: the potential for error matters more. The Innocence Project reports that since 1973, 157 people convicted and sentenced to death were exonerated through DNA evidence and other means, with the most recent in January. It's assumed that others now on death row nationwide were wrongly convicted, with some unjustly executed. False convictions may stem from poor legal representation, cases of mistaken identity or false confessions made under duress. In Kansas, a state that currently has 10 inmates on death row but hasn't executed anyone in decades, it's reasonable to question whether resources devoured by death-penalty proceedings would be better spent in ways such as investigating cold cases and preventing crime. In the end, it's a divisive, emotionally charged issue. People have different versions of justice. Self-proclaimed "pro-life" activists, for example, are split on whether the state should sanction killing the worst criminals. The most horrific acts warrant severe, unrelenting punishment, which life without parole delivers. Those offenders must never again be a threat to society. Victims' loved ones also deserve better than being subjected to decades of painful death-penalty appeals. The latest proposal to end the death penalty in Kansas (which wouldn't reverse sentences for those currently on death row) likely won't gain traction this year. Tax policy, budget fixes and K-12 public school funding will dominate this legislative session. While that's understandable, thoughtful consideration of the responsible act of repealing the death penalty shouldn't be tabled indefinitely. (source: Opinion, Dena SattlerGarden City Telegram) House Committee holds hearing on the death penalty The House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2167 This bill would repeal the death penalty in Kansas. Several proponents of the bill shared their testimony and for some it was very personal. Celeste Dixon supported the death penalty until her mother was murdered. "I woke up realizing I was actively wishing for another human being to die, and I just didn't like the way that made me feel." While the offender was on death row Dixon saw a different perspective. "This woman had just heard that her son was going to die, and I just remember not at the moment but later when I started thinking about it, that must be a terrible feeling to have." Dixon along with other proponents of the bill to repeal the death penalty and replace it with a life sentence gave testimony at a house committee hearing. Former Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz said the money used for people on death row should go to better causes, and life in prison should replace the death penalty. "Existence in a prison is not an existence I think any rational person would want to experience" And while many proponents were present at the hearing several others sent in written statements in support of the bill. As for Celeste, she realizes this won't bring back her mother, but knowing she's doing right in helping other victims, brings her peace. This bill did not pass in the senate, but constituents are hopeful that it will pass in the house. If the bill is passed the death penalty will be replaced with life in prison without the chance of parole. The house committee is expected to further discuss the hearing before making a vote. (source: 6lawrence.com) SOUTH DAKOTA: Panel rejects eliminating death penalty for mentally ill offenders A legislative panel on Monday defeated a bill that would have eliminated the option of the death sentence for severely mentally ill criminal offenders. The House State Affairs Committee on a 8-4 vote opted to reject the bill after defense attorneys, mental health advocates and others advocated for its passage, saying severely mentally ill individuals shouldn't be subject to capital punishment. The measure proposed instead setting a life sentence without opportunity for parole as the maximum
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., GA., FLA., OHIO, MO.
Feb. 15 TEXAS: Sabine County grand jury re-indicts man accused in baby death for capital murder A 27-year-old Pineland man who was arrested back in December of 2014 in connection to the death of his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter has been re-indicted on a capital murder charge, according to the Sabine County District Attorney's Office. Sabine County District Attorney Kevin Dutton said Tuesday that Matthew Hudson's original charge was 1st-degree murder. Jail records show that Hudson has posted a bail amount of $100,000 and has been released from jail. "We can prove this was more than just negligence," Dutton said. "The original autopsy report didn't have photographs." Dutton said his office was getting ready to take the case to trial, and they met with the medical examiner. At that time, the medical examiner showed them the photos. "We determined that the grand jury needed to hear new evidence, and then they indicted him for capital murder," Dutton said. The death penalty is not off the table, Dutton said. The district attorney explained that Hudson has been appointed a death penalty counsel. Dutton said although no court date has been set yet, they are hoping to try the case by the end of the year. According to the affidavit, a Sabine County Sheriff's deputy was contacted by a Child Protective Services investigator on Nov. 7, 2014, in reference to a 5-month-old baby girl that had been airlifted from the Sabine County Hospital to Texas Children's Hospital, where she died less than 48 hours later. When the deputy went to the Sabine County Hospital, a doctor told him that a CT scan of the child had shown "some possible brain trauma." Then the deputy spoke to Sophia's mother, who said that Hudson took her to work at about 5:55 a.m. that morning. She said that her daughter was fine when Hudson dropped her off at work. In addition, the baby's mother told the deputy that she had taken Sophia to the Sabine Family Medicine a couple of weeks before her baby wound up in the hospital. She also took her daughter to Complete Healthcare Services in Jasper a few days before Nov. 7, 2014 for treatment of a cough. Hudson told the deputy that after he dropped his girlfriend off at work, he went back home to a residence in the 300 block of Westwood Loop in Hemphill with Sophia, according to the affidavit. Hudson allegedly left Sophia in the car seat until she began to get fussy, and he moved her closer to him. According to the affidavit, Hudson took Sophia out of the car seat and changed her dirty diaper. He told the deputy that he lay the baby on her back and started to give her a bottle of formula. When Sophia started to get sleepy, Hudson laid her on her back in his bed and started giving her the baby formula again. Hudson told the deputy that Sophia started bubbling milk out of her mouth, and he wiped her mouth before trying again with the formula. This time, Sophia bubbled the milk again and coughed, according to the affidavit. When Hudson noticed that Sophia was unresponsive, he allegedly shook her in an effort to get a response. After Hudson woke up the 3 other people who were at the house, all 3 of them came running to help, and one of them started doing CPR on the baby and kept doing it until the first responders from the Fairmont Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene, the affidavit stated. Hudson told a 2nd SCSO deputy who came to assist at the hospital the same version of the story, according to the affidavit. The 2nd deputy went with Hudson to his home. According to the affidavit, the deputy noticed that there was no working light in the bedroom where Hudson had taken Sophia to feed her. When asked about the lack of a working light, Hudson allegedly told the deputy that he used the light on his cell phone. The affidavit stated that the deputy did not see any sign of aspiration on the bed, the living room, or on the floors of the residence. On Nov. 10, 2014, Hudson met with a Sabine County deputy, a Texas Ranger, and CPS workers in Hemphill. During the interview, he gave almost the same version of what he had earlier said had happened. However, this time, he told authorities that after Sophia started getting fussy, he took her out of the car seat and started tickling her and making her laugh, according to the affidavit. In addition, Hudson allegedly started tossing Sophia in the air and catching her to make her laugh. Later, after Hudson talked to authorities about Sophia bubbling up the milk and coughing before becoming unresponsive, he said that he didn't remember how many times he shook the baby or how hard, according the affidavit. When the Texas Ranger asked Hudson who he thought was responsible for Sophia's death, Hudson allegedly said that he believed he was. (source: KTRE news) NORTH CAROLINA: Trial underway for Wake County man accused of killing in-laws Before opening statements
